Automatic gas-operated firearm.



No. 814,242. PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

M. F. SMITH AUTOMATIC GAS OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLIUATIOK FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

6 SHEETS -SHEET 1.

No. 314,242. PATENTED MAR. e, 1906.

M. P. SMITH. AUTOMATIC GAS BPEEATED PEREARM.

' 'APPLIGATIOE FILED NOV. 25, 903.

1 6 SHEE'I5-SHEBT 5 Quuenioz t: any

45 :automatic type o gun.

called send-automatic type of STATES PATENT OFFICE. MORRlS r. SMITH. or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or 'rnsnnsonn'rns TO WILLIAM D. oosmr, or DES MOINES. IOWA.

AUTOMATIC GAS-DPERATED FIREARM.

No. erases.

Patented March 6, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Monaxs Fonn SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and-State of Pennsylvania, have invented a. certain new and. useful Automatic Gas-Operated Firearm, of which the following. is a specification. l r I My present invention relates to firearms or in which the powder-gas pressure developed in firing is utilized for 'actuat' the working arts in reloading after each s ot is fired, an has for its object to greatly simplify the mechanism pf such a gun and to ree dcr it more reliable in action and more durahis in use. By waypf example merelylshali illustrate and describe my mvention'as aplied to a small-arm or shoulder-gun adapted or military and for sportingpurposes; but I desire it tobe' understood t at my invention is applicable, with on! slight structural changes; to other types o 4 I have also shown-t e invention em ed in the sobut the novel features ma also be applie to the full- In carrying out my invention I enaploy a reciproca f plunger; a piston on sai plunget-working m a cylinder that receives ower-gas pressurefrom the gun-barrel to 've ring movmg the. pi forward when t e powdergas pressure enhausted; a breech-closing olt reciprocated by the aforesaid movements of the plunger; slacking-do automaticall rising in rear of the breecholt (preferaby by spring-pressure) as the latter.

reaches its seat and depressed from-the, ath of said breech-bolt by the first part the rearward movement of the plunger; a springdriven hammer carried 12 an work' on the loc -do so as to revented in reaching t e mg-pin until the breech-bolt s secured, and having a shoulder abutted by vice which is disconnecte the bolt for the purpose of cooking the hammer and arrestingjhe rearward movement of the bolt by the hammer-s ring;- a trigger defrozn the sear automatically by the throwing of the hammer,

so that in the rapid reloading and cooking the holding of the trigger will not interfere with the olperation; a safety-catch carried by the dog ehind the breechbolt and which so .overlaps the trigger connection that the trig,-

tuated parts after the but before. firing.

' ger is prevented from again connecting with the sear until the breech-closure is securely locked, so as to prevent premature firin and a cartridge-feedi ma azine-of nove construction opening om fhc bottom, ha a lifting-arm independent of the magazine-c 0- sure and presenting the cartrid es success'ively into the path of the brace -bolt each timethe breech is opened. 7 I My inventionresides in the novelty in some of the above-recited features per se, in certain novel combinations of such features, and in certain novel details of construction 9f cer tain of the parts, all of which will be hereinaftar full described, and specifically pointed out in t e claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevaticmon a reduced scale, of a sporting or service ride in connection with which my invention will be described for purposes of illustration. Fi 2- is a longitudinal section of the intermediate portion of the gun, showing the positions of the parts. at time of firing, but before the breech is opened, the triggerbeihg pulled and the hammer being projected against the firing-pin, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the intermediate portion of the n with the parts in the positions which t ey occupy immediately after firin when the breech has been opened by t e rearward movement of the plun er under the action of the gas-pressure and efore the breech has been closed again b r the forward movement of the drive-rod on or the pressure of the return-spring. Fig, 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of portions of the frame and barrel in which the positions of the parts correspond to those shown in Fig. 3, but in which the breech has been opened and is being held open is the hand-operated slide on the under side 0 the fore-stock, liig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same portions of the gun,-showing the Eositions of the gas-acreeoh'has been closed, Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on the linesfi 6, 7 7, 8 8, 9 Q, 10 10, and 1111 of 3, the parts in the several sections being viewed in the directions of the arrows associated with the respective section-lines.

Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through the forward end of the gun barrel and the parts for developing movement from while the stock the powder-gases. Figs. 13 and 14 are re-\ s ectivel a top view and a side view of the rive-r0 with its gas-actuated piston. Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 show, respectively, a side view, a bottom yiew, a rear end view, and a front end view of the locking-dog for the breech-bolt. Figs. 19 20, and 21 illustrate the means for openin the breech by hand, being a to plan 0 the s ideway, a side view of the ban -operated slide, and a vertical transverse section ofsaidslide. Fi s. 22,23, and 24 show the breech-bolt in top p an, in side elevation, and in transverse section. Figs. 25 and 26 are transverse andlongitudinal sections of the magazine and show by dotted-lines the relation thereto of the reciprocating breech-bolt which feeds the cartridges successively therefrom into the chamber. Figs. 27, 28, and 29 represent in side view, vertical section, and front view the safet -catch which holds the t ger inactive unt' the locking dog is in position behind the breechbolt. 30 is a detail vertical section of the swinging catch carried by the locking-dog- Fig. 31 is a'ho'rizontal section on the line 31 31 of Fig. 30.

Assembling the gun is accomplished in a manner to ofier the fewest possible projections on the exterior of the arm for which purpose the barrel 1 with the baiance 2 and the receiver 3 are first assembled as one part,

4 and receiver-bed 6 are assembled as another part, and these two parts are then brought together by sliding the receiver longitudinally over the receiver-bed and into 1; e frame and securing the parts ainst longitudinal movement by a screw 7, entered through the stock from the butt, (see Fig. 3,) and to permit these parts to fit to gather as stated they are provided with ngue-andgroove joints 8, as shown in to Fig. 6 to 11. I

sis-pressure is taken from the barrel 1. throug the ports 9 ,near its forward end, and delivered into an expansion-chamber 11, de pending from the barrel near the latter s forward end and having a seat 11 into which fits the forward end of the tube 11". At its rear endl the tgbe li lll is seated at 11 inha guidingu 11 e as assin into t e ex ansion chamber thr ugh the p rts is contro led by a screw-plug 10 and acts on a piston 12, which has a pm-and-slot connection 14 with iston-rod 13, a spring 15 being introduce between the piston and the pistonrod to absorb the shock of the as-pressure which is suddenly communicated to the piston when the projectile passes the ports 9.

Opening of the breech takes place immediately upon communication of the gas-pres sure to the piston 12 throu h the medium of piston or drive rod 13, whic is guided in the guiding-lug 11 and has a bifurcated rear end orming members 16, (see Figs. 6, l1, l3, and 14 and dotted lines in F1 s. 2 and 3,) which have upwardlyexten ing portions carr 'ng In S 17, en aging-in grooves 18 in the reecholt 19, igsb', 7, 8, 13, and 22. The breech-bolt is provided with a firing-pin 19, which is held normally rearwardly or retracted in the bolt by means of a spring 19". The lugs 16, moving in the moves 18, cause a lost motion between the rive-rod and the :breech-bolt, and during this lost motion the lugs en age with a transverse pin 19, carried by the mg-pin and extending through slots 19 into the grooves. This breech-bolt car ries a suitable extractor 19 and is constructed with lateral flanges 20 along its upper side, which work in tracks or coves 21, which tracks extend longitudina ly ofthe receiver and guide the bolt as it is reciprocated by the plunger. At its rear end the breech-bolt is provided with a seat 22, that receives the coking-dog 23, pivoted at 24 and pressed upward by a s rin 25 into said seat in order to hold the be t in oeked osition. Durin the lost motion between rive-rod 13 an the breech-bolt the beveled and stepped ends 16 of the members 16 of the drive-rod engage lugs 26 on the sides of the swinging catch 26. The swinging catch is pivoted at 26 to the dog 23 and engages at its forward end 26 in recesses 26 in the frame to lock the locki dog against movement due to a shock. y the engpgement of the drive-rod with the catoht e catch is first moved to unlock the dog, and the d is depressed out of engage-. ment with the olt preparatory to mom the latter rearward. "At the completion 0 the relative movement of the drive-rod permitted by the rooves 18 the continued movement of the rive-rod moves the breechbolt until it occupies the position shown in @ushioning the rearward stroke of the parts at the end of the breech-opening movement is very important to the successful 0 era tion of a gun of this type, owing to t e great ra idity of movement. It has been pro ose to accomplish this purpose by intro ucing an elastic buffer behind the breechbolt; but this alone is not eiiective, because the buffer is not in the pro or place to avoid shock in the actuating mec anism. To successfully absorb the movement in the rearwardly-moving arts, it is necessary to locate a suitable absorber in position to arrest the movement of the drive-rod directly and not indirectl through the breech-bolt". In addition to t is the ife of the partsmay be materially increased by) rovidm an elastic buffer for the breechdit in ad' ition. To accomplish this purpose, I provide a dashpot, one member of which is connected or mounted on the drive-rod,while theother member is mounted on a fixed part of the n. This dash-pot preferably consists of a cylinder 27 on the drive-rod 16 and a piston 28. on a fixed art ,of the structure in a position to enter the cylinder as the drive-rod apwith roaches the rear limit of its movement and orming an air-cushion therein to arrest the rearward movement of the drive-rod without permitting any of the parts to strike. Piston 28 is preferably built up of a sleeve 28' and a. headed bolt 28", ln'serted' therein screwed intothe front of the receiver-en V confining a soft-metal packing 28" between its head and the sleeve 29 representsthe, I o hammerorfiring-bolt, mounted to slide or re? ciprocate in n idewey 30 in the locking-dog 23 and provi ed with a. projecting spring 31 for throwing itforward. The hammer isprovided with a. shoulder 32, that engages with :5 the receding breech-bolt, thereby forming a connection etween these parts by which the hammer is moved rearwardly to be cooked, and-the breech-bolt is cushioned as the bolt completes its movement, and the hcmmeris :o'held in cocked position by its-forward end".

on aging-the sear 33, fulcrumed at 34 on the c -dog and pressed upwerd into engagposition by a spring 35. To reiease the er, the trigger 36, pivoted at 37 and held normally forward by spring afifi'isprovised with a draw-rod 38,.adepted to-engnge the depending end ofthe sesr-lever'39, t e draw-rod and sear-lever for n' the connection between the trigger and t e sear. In the ragid action of-the gun the trigger is prevente from holding the sear out of cng e-' ment with the hammerbg' disc ails draw-rod from lever39, or hie? purpose a pivotal lifting-arm 40, held in normal position byspring 40 and through which the draw-rod works, is e ed by c boss 41 on the hnmrEer, so that w on the hammer is projected the draw-rod is lifted out of en ggeement with the lever 39, and the sear is '40 to return to position to receive the portion! of the hammer with'which it enga when the latter is cocked and hence the old ing back of the trigger has no efi'ect on the sear, it bei simply necessary to release the 5 trigger, so t at it can move forward and ongo the scar prior to, again firing the gun. lie lifting-arm 40-thereby provides a. means for breaking the connection between the seslr and the trigger as long as thefiring-hammeris' in fired position. As a safety device to prevent firing the gun'before the breech is closed the catch 26 has an extension 26", that projects beneath the horizontal arm of lever'39 until the locking-dog is in piece behind the" 5 5 breech-bolt, when said lever is released and is free to be operated by the trigger. Thus the extension on the catch provides a. means moved with the locking-dog when said dog is moved to its unlocking position to hold-the t ger connection ino retive and moved w ifil said locking-dog w. on said dog ismoyed to firingposition to make the trigger connection operable.

Feeding ammunition is accompiis hed by shown in Figs. 25 and 26, whichma. ezine is of sufficient width to receive two co umns of cartr dges and is provided at to with an openmg 43, in which a portion of t c breechbolt 19 projects. Each time the-breech-bolt passes to the rear the columns of csrtrid es are .ressed upward in position to be sung t by t e enterin portion of the breech-bolt as ii ustratedfi? 1gs.- 25 and 26, so thst when the breech-bolt moves iorwardone cartridge will be forced into the chamberof the gun in advance of thebreech-boit. The magazine may Be conveniently formed of a thin motel casing inserted into the receiver of the from the bottom through an opening which is closed by' a hinged cover 44, pivoted. at 45 and retained by a spring-latch 4620f such con-V structien that it may be withdrawn to permit the cover to be drawn downward (orupwerd if the n is reversed for filling the magazine) by p ing on the spring'-cetch.- 48 representsas ring-p arm in the fulcrum at 49 and spring 50, so connects that when the cover is opened tension is removed from thesp This arm cerries at its swin 'ng'end a tsb e (pressed upw n bye 51, connected to the arm t ugh a transverse pivot 52 and having a central longituv dinal partition 53, (see 10,) which maintains the slinement of t e two columns of .c es. The relations of these parts are such that the arm is not restricted in its vertical movement by the cover, and while the latter is closed the arm feeds the coluinms of cartridges upward as they are used.

return-spring 54 abutting at its rear end against t e guiding-lug 11 end at its front end against the drive-rod 13 to ct on the drive-rod in the direction opposi v that in which it 'is moved by the powder-gases. When the parts have been moved, as already described, to the position shown in Fig. 3, the return-spring 54 immediately restores the arts to the positions which they occupy in 2 and 5,(except that the hsmmerwi lbe le cockedJ after which the firing by pulling the, trigger, my oh causes the hammer and trigger parts to assume thepositions in whichthey are shown 2, whereupon'thc'powdel geses will again orcc back the drive-rod, causing the some cycle of finove'ments as described.

Initial loading is accomplished by a handknob 55, Figs. 4, 5, 20, and 2 1, controlling a. slide 56, which engages in front of the dashtion of'the' plimger or a port connected with it. By this mcansthe arts can be moved to the ositions illustrc in Figs. 3 and 4 by ban and then permitted to return under the action of spring 54 to the position shown m Fig. 5, when the gun will be ready for firing.

65 placing a suitable number ohcartridges in a Slide 56 is held in its forward position norroof Closing the breech is accomplished by the is ready for" pet cylinder 27 or some other suitable por- I track with'the barrel by gases recc i ried tion with the y y y movable to and from firing position, a gas- ,be returned in its rearward position to hold the breech open by a lock comprisingha pushpin 58, engaging in a notch 59 in t e slide- Exhaust of owder-gases will ordinarily take place to a arge extent back through the;

bores 9 and the barrel of the un when the projectile has left the latter; ut to insure reater rap'dity of action this exhaust may, if desired, befacilitated by pin- 'ng exhaustports'in'the cylinder 13 at such points that they will be uncovered when the piston 12 approaches the rearward limit of its movement.

Extracting the spent shells may be accomlished by any suitable extractor; but I preer to employ the spring-claw extractor 19" on top of the breech-bolt, which engages the neck of the cartridge formed by a pro ecting V flan e or a countersunk groove and draws the she] rearward as the breech o ens until the shell strikes the shoulder 61, igs. 2-and 3,

when it will be thrown upward through the openin 62 at the top of the receiver.

Having thus described my" invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

.1. In a as-o erated n, the combination to and from firin position, and means locking the breech-b0 t in its firing position,.of a gas-operated drive-rod moved independently of the barrel by ases received from the barrel, connections etween the breech-bolt and the driverod permitting the rod to unlock and lock the breech-bolt, and move it in both directions, and an elongated dash-pot imposing a adualIy-increasing resistance upon the drive-rod, at a point in advance of the connection between the drive-rod and the breech-block, and durin a considerable portion of and to the end 0 the rearward movement of the parts, finally arresting and assisting to return the parts by the air trapped in the dash-pot.

2, In a as-operated gun, the combinatioii with the ed barrel, a sliding breech-bolt '-movable to and from firing position, a gasopcrated piston moved independently of the 'ved from the barrel, lostmoti n connections between the breech-bolt and .e iston, an air-cushion c linder car- B" t '0 piston in advance 0 its connecvi' lf'h the breech-bolt, and a piston for movementn in the cushion-cylinder located of the movement of the gas'pis- 3. ha figs-operated gun, the combination edbarrel, a sliding breechbolt operated piston moved independently of the 'nrel by ga es received from the barrel, lost;

ed arrel, a reech-bolt movablemotion connections between the breech-bolt and the iston, an air-cushion cylinder carried by t e piston in advance of its connection with the breech-bolt, a piston for movement in the cushion-cylinder located near the end of the movement of the gas-piston, and incliependent cushioning means for the breech- 4, In an automatic firearm, the combination of the drive-rod, the breechbolt, the locking-dog for said breech-bolt, and the spring-driven hammer reci rocatin on the locking-dog, engaged by t e breec -bolt in the rearward movement of said bolt, and cushioning the breech-bolt at the end of its movement.

5. In an automatic firearm, the combination of the drive-rod, the dashot directly cushioning said drive-rod, the reach-bolt, the locking-do for said breech-bolt, and the spring-driven ammer reci rocatin on' the locking-dog, engaged -by t e breec -bolt in the rearward'movement of said bolt, and cushioning the breech-bolt at the end of its movement.

6. In a gun the combination with the rearwardl -movable breech-bolt, a lockingdog mova le to and from the path of the breechbolt, a sliding spring-pressed hammer carried by the dog, and a sear and trigger for the hammer. I

7. In a gun the combination with the rearwardl -movable breech-bolt a locking-dog mova le to and from the path of the same, a sliding spring-pressed hammer carried by the locking-dog, a sear for the hammer carried by the locking'dog, and a trigger for operating the sear.

8. In an automatic firearm, the combination of the reci rocating-breech-bolt, a lockin -do movab e into the path of the breechbo t, a ammer carried by the locking-do a sear-and-trigger mechanism for control mg the hammer, and means on the locking-dog arresting the sear andtrigger mechanism when the dog is in unlocked position.

' 9. In a un the combination with the drive-rod, t e reech-bolt, the locking-dog, the hammer, the sear and the tri er connection; of theswinging lockin -dog engaging the trig er connection and he ding it inactive when t e locking-dog is out of. engagement with the bolt.

10. In a gun, the combination with the drive-rod, the breech-bolt, the locking-dog, the hammer, the sear and the trigger connection; of the swinging catch carried by the lockin -dog engaging the trig er connection and h lding it inactive when t e lockin -dog is out of engagement with the bolt an connections between the drive-rod and the swinging catch thro h which the drive-rod displaces the locking,- og.

11. In a firearm, the combination of the catch carried by the dog, of a roe mer moved rearwardly b the breech-bolt the searfor retaining the ammer in cocke position a triggena draw-rod'connectin the soar and the-trigger and a pivoted 1i tingarm enga ed by-t e hammer when the latter moves to ed position to cause the draw-rod to be moved to break the connection between the er and the sear.

12. n a gun, the combination with the dnve-rod,, the'brcech-bolt, and the pivoted lockingqiog, of a swinging catch carried by the locking-dog and connections between the drive-rodend the swin 'ng catch through which the drive-rod disp aces the iocldngdog from its lockin position.

13. In a gun, t e combination with the flrive-rod, the breech-bolt, and the ivoted coking-dog, of a swinging cat'ch'on t e pivoted locking-dog, lugs on the ivoted catch and members on the drive-r for engagement with the iu' on the pivoted catch to move the pivoted licking-dog. V

14'. ln-a gan,';'th'e combination with the breech bolt, the' voted locking-dog, the z 5 firing-hammer, an' the trilgger'connect xon, of

' means moved with the coking-dog when said dog is moved to its unlocking popi tion, to hold the trigger connection moperative, and moved withthe. said locking-dog when said dog is moved to firing trigger connection opera lo. ,1

- 15. a sliding br -bol dogfor the same, of a reciprocating springressed firing-hammer carried bythe pivoted oeking-dog and a odor and a trigger for the hammer.

16. In :a. sliding breec dog for the same, of a reciprocating spring: ressed firing hammer carried by the pivoted ocln'ngdog, and connections between the breech-bolt and the firing-hammer for movingthe firing-homer rearwa'rdly with the breech-bolt and a scar and a trigger for the hammer. I 17. In a the combination with the sliding breec -bolt, and a pivoted lockingmeeting spring-gfessed firing-- hammer camed by the'pivote locking-dog, connections between thebreech-boit and the i the combination with the .reciprocating firing-hammer to dense the hammer to move rearwardiy with the breechbolt a scar carried the pivoted locking dog holding the firingammer inst movement, and means for operating t e sear,

18. In a the combination with the sliding breec bolt, and a pivoted lockingdog, of a reciprocating spfinggsressed firinghammer carried by the pivo locking-dog, connections between the breech-bolt and the reciprocating fixing-hammer to cause the hammer to move rearwardly with the breech belt a car carried hi the pivoted locking- 6 5 dog holding the firi v gammer against move- .ingi breech- 't1on to make the 1' V breech. the combination with the] t; and a'pivoted Ioc'king pivoted seat for holdin -bolt, and a. pivoted locking ment, means -for operating the scar, and a swinging catch carried "by the lockingdog and preventing the operation of the sear.

19. In a. un, the combination with a slidolt, and a pivoted locking-dog, of a spring-pressed reoiprocati mer carried by the pivoted locking-dog, and

'a pivoted sear for holdin .thefiring-hammer in cocked position, carrie b thelockingdog and atrigger for operating t e sear.

20. In a gun, the combination with a slid ing breeeholt, and a pivoted loeki -dog, of a spring-pressed reciprocating fixingammer earned by the pivoted. locking-dog, a pivoted sear for hoidi the firing-hammer in cocked position, carrigg by the locking-dog, a sear-lever pivoted to the locking-dog, and means for operating the sear-lever.

21. In a gun, the combination with a sliding breeehoit, and a pivoted locking-dog, of a spring ressed reciprocating firing-hammer carrie by the pivoted locking-dog, a pivoted sear for holdi the firing-hammer in cocked position, can-i235 b the locking-dog, a sear-lever pivoted to the ocking-dog, means for operati the sear-lever, and aswinging catch carrie by thelocking-dog for preventi themovement of the sear-lever when the ih king dog is out ofits locking position.

22. n a on, the combination with a slidiolt, and a pivoted locking-dog, of a spring-pressed reciprocating firing hammer carried by the pivoted locking-dog, a the firing-hammer in cocked position, carrie b the locking-dog's. seen-lever pivoted to the for operat the sear-lever a swinging carried by t e locking-dog ior prevent! the movemhnt of thesear-lever when the loc do is out of its locking position, and a drivero connection with the swin 'ing catch for anoving the locking-dog out 0 its locked ositiom 23. he combination with the sliding hreeeh-boit and a pivoted locking-dog, of a spring-pressed reciprocating firing-hammer carried by the locking-dog, a tri er connection for the firing-hammer; an means for breaking the connection between the trigger and the firinighammer when said firing-harnmeris in its ed position.

24. The combination with the sliding breech-bolt, and a pivoted locking-dog, of a firing-hammer earned by the locking-dog, a sear and trigger connection for the firinghammer, means for breaking the connection between the'tri geland the sear when the firing-hammer is m its fired position and connectzons between the sliding breech-bolt and the firin -ha1nm r forcockln the said hammer-on t e movement of oak bolt.

25. The combination with the sliding breech-bolt, and a; pivotedrlool ingqiog of a firing-hammer 1 a sear for holding thejirmghammer in coo edpos ition, a trigger, a drawfiring-hamw IOO ooking-dog, means catch ing breech rod in the connection between the scar and the trigger, and a lifting-arm pivoted to the lockin -dog connected to the draw-rod and move by the firing-hammer when moving to firing position so that the sear cannot be held out of engaging position with the firinghammer by the trigger after firing.

26. The combination with breech-bolt and the pivoted lockin -(log, of a firing-hammer carried by the loc ing-do connections between the slidin breech-b t and the firin -hammer for cocEing the said hammer on t e rearward movement of said bolt, a sear carried by thelocking-dog and engaging with the firing-hammer, a sear-lever pivoted to the locking-dog and operatin the sear, a swinging catch carried by the loc ingdog and holdin the sear-lever a ainst movement .when the ocking-dog is in its unlocking position, and a drive-rod engaging with the swinging catch to move the locking-dog from lts locked position.

27. The combination with the sliding breech-bolt, and the pivoted lockin -dog, of

.a spring-pressed reciprocating firingammer carried by the locking-dog, connectlonsbetween the sliding breech-bolt and the firinghammer for cooking the said hammer on the rearward-movement of said bolt, a scar carried by the locking-dog and engaging with the firm -hammer, a sear-lever pivoted to the locking 0g and operating the sear, a swinging catch carried by the locking-dog and hol ing the sear-lever against movement when the locking-dog is'in its unlocking position, a drive-rod engaggigg with the swinging catch to move the loo g-dog from its locked position, a draw-rod for engagement with the sear-lever for moving the same, and a liftingbar carried by the locking-dog and moved by the firing-hammer on fir .1g to move the drawrod from engagement wit the sear-lever.

'28. Ina n,the combinationwiththe slidolt, andthe pivoted locking-dog, of a firing-hammer, a scar for the firing-hammer, a triggpr for operating the sear,of means breaking t e connection between the trigger and the sear as long as the firing-hammer is in the fired position and means preventing the operation of the sear as long as the locking-do is in an unlockin position. 29. a un the'combmationwith the sliding breecholt and the pivoted locking-dog, of the reciprocating spring-pressed firinghammer carried by the locking-dog and moved to cocked position by the slidirgg breech-bolt, a sear carried by the ivot locking-dog; a trigger for operating t e sear,

means for aking the connection between the trigger and the sear 'so long as the firing hammer is in'the fired position, and means preventing the operation of the sear as long as the locking-dog is in an unlocking position.

30. Ina gun, the combination with the breech-bolt, of a gas-operated drive-rod, lostthe sliding lockin motion connection between the drive-rod and the breech-bolt, a cushion acting on the driverod in advance of the lost-motion connection near the end of the rearward movement of the drive-rod, and a cushion for the breech-bolt on the other side of the lost-motion connection.

31. In a gun, the combination of a breechbolt i'ovided with grooves on opposite sides, a for the same, of a bifurcated drive-rod, each member of which carries a lug movin in one of the grooves in the breach-boltan controlling the lock 'durin such movement.

32 In a gun, the combination of a breechbolt provided with ooves on o osite sides, a firing-pin carried the breedh-bolt, and a bifurcated drive-rod, each member of which carries a lu moving in one of the grooves in the breecholt and controlling the firing-pin during such movement.

33. In a gun, the combination with the rearwardly-moving breech-bolt, of a gas-operated drive-rod'for the breech-bolt, a lostmotion connection between the drive-rod and the breech-bolt, means for cushioni the drive-rod'in advance of the lost mo ion, a

spring-pressed slid hammer moved rearward y (iv the breecholt and cushioning the bolt, an a trigger and sear-for the hammer.

34. In a gun, the combination with the firing-hammer, of a scar for holding the hammer against movement, a trigger, a connection between the scar and the trigger, and a lifting-lever pivoted intermediate its ends engaging at one end the connection and moved atits other end by the firing-hammer, when fired, to break the connection between the trigger and the sear.'

35. In an automatic gun, the combination with the breech-bolt ca ing a spring-retracted firing-pin, of a bi rcated gas-operated drive-rod, a lost-motion connection between the members of tke drive-rod and the opposite sides of the br -h-bolt, and means operated by the drive-rod moving the firingpm rearwardly in the bolt on the rearward movement 6f the drive-rod.

36. In a gun, the combination with the rearwardl -nioving breech-bolt, of a lockingdog mova le into and out of the path of the breech-bolt, and a bifurcated drive-rod, the twomembers ofthe drive-rod engaging the -dog on opposite sides.

37. tion with the barrel rovi ed with a port near its forward end, 0 a guiding-lug provide with a perforation and a seat, and depending fronrt e barrel," an expansion-chamber depending from' the forward end of the barrel, communicating with the bore through the port, and provided with a seat, a tube fitted in the seatof the guidingdug and the seat of the expansion-chamber, a pistqn rgd @orking through the guiding-lug and the tube and provided with a piston, and a spiral spring (1 a gas-operated on, the combinatoo surrounding the iston-rod and bearing against the guidingug and the iston.

38. In a gas-operated gun, t e combimk tion with the barrel, provided with a. port near its forward end, of a guiding-lug with a perforation endfiepending mm the barrel, an expansion chamber dependin from the barrel near the forward end an communicating with" the bore through the port, a tube seated at its forward end in the expansion-chamber and at its reer end in the guiding-lug, a piston-rod working through the guiding-111g and the tube and rovided with a piston at its forward end, en espr seated at one end ainst theguiding-lug a ii at itsother end agamst the. piston.

39. In a. n, the combination with the magazine, t e breechbolt movable to per- ?rovided mite feed from the magazine and e gee-e ereteci drive-rod, of a. spring t er moving oi;

drive-rod in one direction, Henri-operated means normelli'yl'r out of engagement and ads ted to be t wn-into connection therevit and a lock for holding the breech-bolt in open osition.

40. e combination with the breech-bolt,

the, iocking-dog, the trigger and the gear, of

means controliedby the coking-dog and preventing the movement of thesear when the locking-dog is in unlocking position.

The foregoing specification signed this 23d day of November, 1903.

. MORRIS l1 SMITH.

In presence of NOIS S. LAWS,

W. H. SHENEMAN, Jr. 

